Discovery Box2 Timothy 4:1-8
Context4:1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 4:2 Preach the message, 1 be ready 2 whether it is convenient or not, 3 reprove, rebuke, exhort 4 with complete patience and instruction. 4:3 For there will be a time when people 5 will not tolerate sound teaching. Instead, following their own desires, 6 they will accumulate teachers for themselves, because they have an insatiable curiosity to hear new things. 7 4:4 And they will turn away from hearing the truth, but on the other hand they will turn aside to myths. 8 4:5 You, however, be self-controlled 9 in all things, endure hardship, do an evangelist’s work, fulfill your ministry. 4:6 For I am already being poured out as an offering, and the time for me to depart 10 is at hand. 4:7 I have competed well; 11 I have finished the race; I have kept the faith! 4:8 Finally the crown of righteousness is reserved for me. The Lord, the righteous Judge, will award it to me in that day – and not to me only, but also to all who have set their affection on 12 his appearing.
[4:2] 2 tn Or “be persistent.”
[4:2] 3 tn Grk “in season, out of season.”
[4:3] 5 tn Grk “they”; the referent (the people in that future time) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[4:3] 6 tn Grk “in accord with.”
[4:3] 7 tn Grk “having an itching in regard to hearing,” “having itching ears.”
[4:4] 8 sn These myths were legendary tales characteristic of the false teachers in Ephesus and Crete. See parallels in 1 Tim 1:4; 4:7; and Titus 1:14.
[4:5] 9 tn Or “sober,” “temperate.”
[4:6] 10 tn Grk “of my departure.”
[4:7] 11 sn The expression I have competed well (Grk “I have competed the good competition”) uses words that may refer to a race or to a boxing or wrestling match: “run the good race” or “fight the good fight.” The similar phrase in 1 Tim 1:18 uses a military picture and is more literally “war the good warfare.”
